Photo Galleries

"Hi there! Welcome to school!" Pesce said over and over with a big smile on her face. The kids were all smiles, too, greeting each other and laughing among friends.

Mountain Community, Henderson County's only charter school, has an enrollment of 180 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students in Henderson County's year-round public schools returned to classes on July 10, and those on the traditional schedule will report on Aug. 26. Henderson County Early College High School resumes classes on Aug. 7.

Garrette Cairnes, entering sixth grade at Mountain Community, said he was excited to see his friends after summer break.

"And it's going to be fun taking the leap into middle school," he added.

"I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of new kids in my class and seeing a lot of old friends," he said.

Their sixth-grade friend, Tanner Coggins, added enthusiastically that he was looking forward to "recess!"

"No, seriously," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting to see everybody and not getting picked on by sixth graders anymore. I won't pick on the fifth graders, because I know how that feels."

Nearby, incoming second grader Maggie Bish, new to the school this year, arrived with her parents.

Her mom, Christie, said she was excited to have Maggie attend Mountain Community because the school "feels like family." Maggie was excited about having a turtle, a lizard and a fish in her classroom. The family was waiting for Maggie's fifth-grade sibling, Aubrey, to arrive from Camp Pinnacle.

"The camp director there has two kids who go here," Christie Bish explained, "so they're bringing Aubrey with them today for her first day of fifth grade."

"Welcome to the family reunion!" Pesce said over the general din of children chatting and playing. "We're so excited to see each other!"

Celia Butterworth, entering eighth grade, added that "it's going to be a really fun year. I get to hang out with all my friends!"

Luca Chacon, ready for his first day of kindergarten, said he was looking forward to "having fun and making a lot of friends."

His brother, Esteban, is in seventh grade at the school and his sister, Monse, 2½ years old, stood nearby wearing a backpack, looking ready for school but clearly underage.

"She thinks she is going to school today," explained her mom, Jessica Chacon, with a laugh. Pointing to Luca, who had wandered away to talk to a few other children, Jessica Chacon added, "Look! He's already making friends. Everyone is a family here."

<p>The sun came out for the first day of school at Mountain Community School on Wednesday, just in time to greet the students arriving to the welcoming arms of their principal, Denise Pesce.</p><p>"Hi there! Welcome to school!" Pesce said over and over with a big smile on her face. The kids were all smiles, too, greeting each other and laughing among friends. </p><p>Mountain Community, Henderson County's only charter school, has an enrollment of 180 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students in Henderson County's year-round public schools returned to classes on July 10, and those on the traditional schedule will report on Aug. 26. Henderson County Early College High School resumes classes on Aug. 7.</p><p>Garrette Cairnes, entering sixth grade at Mountain Community, said he was excited to see his friends after summer break. </p><p>"And it's going to be fun taking the leap into middle school," he added.</p><p>His friend, Dustin Watkins, also entering sixth grade, stood beside him.</p><p>"I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of new kids in my class and seeing a lot of old friends," he said. </p><p>Their sixth-grade friend, Tanner Coggins, added enthusiastically that he was looking forward to "recess!" </p><p>"No, seriously," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting to see everybody and not getting picked on by sixth graders anymore. I won't pick on the fifth graders, because I know how that feels."</p><p>Nearby, incoming second grader Maggie Bish, new to the school this year, arrived with her parents. </p><p>Her mom, Christie, said she was excited to have Maggie attend Mountain Community because the school "feels like family." Maggie was excited about having a turtle, a lizard and a fish in her classroom. The family was waiting for Maggie's fifth-grade sibling, Aubrey, to arrive from Camp Pinnacle. </p><p>"The camp director there has two kids who go here," Christie Bish explained, "so they're bringing Aubrey with them today for her first day of fifth grade."</p><p>"Welcome to the family reunion!" Pesce said over the general din of children chatting and playing. "We're so excited to see each other!"</p><p>Celia Butterworth, entering eighth grade, added that "it's going to be a really fun year. I get to hang out with all my friends!"</p><p>Luca Chacon, ready for his first day of kindergarten, said he was looking forward to "having fun and making a lot of friends."</p><p>His brother, Esteban, is in seventh grade at the school and his sister, Monse, 2½ years old, stood nearby wearing a backpack, looking ready for school but clearly underage. </p><p>"She thinks she is going to school today," explained her mom, Jessica Chacon, with a laugh. Pointing to Luca, who had wandered away to talk to a few other children, Jessica Chacon added, "Look! He's already making friends. Everyone is a family here."</p><p><i>Reach Tanker at 828-694-7871 or nancy.tanker@blueridgenow.com.</i></p>